Category: Inductees by Last Name A

Scottsbluff (Class of 1969)
Frosty Anderson provided much of the spark for storybook seasons for the Scottsbluff Bearcats. Back-to-back state championships in track, conference championships in football and a state basketball tournament berth kept Anderson, a future Husker football hall of fame inductee, in the limelight. His 12 touchdowns his senior year – nine receiving, two punt returns and one fumble return – helped Scottsbluff to the Big 10 Conference co-championship. He started for two seasons in basketball and placed in the sprints at the state track meet, helping set a school record in the 880-yard relay. At Nebraska, he lettered for three seasons and graduated with 991 receiving yards, which ranked fourth all-time. An All-Big Eight pick as a senior, he led the conference in touchdown receptions and was drafted in the eighth round by the New Orleans Saints.

Known for his sign-off: “Have a good day the rest of this one, a good tomorrow and take care of yourself,” Ahmann was the primary face and voice of Nebraska high school sports while hosting KOLN/KGIN’s Friday night Sports Roundup from 1972 to 1980. Ahmann has also worked as a broadcaster in Lexington, North Platte, Sioux City and Wayne, as well as in Iowa and Michigan. He called the 1966 “Game of the Century” between Michigan State and Notre Dame. Throughout his radio/tv career, high school sports got first-class treatment. At 74, Mark was still active at the station hosting the morning show “The View from Wayne America” each weekday. He continues to do play by play calling for many of the high school and college games. Mark is a local celebrity who emcees many events in Wayne and throughout the state.

He is a long time employee of the Wayne KTCH station and was general manager at one time.

Coach. Curlee Alexander won the 115-pound NAIA National Wrestling Championship in 1969 for the University of Nebraska at Omaha and turned that experience into a highly successful coaching career. He started at Omaha Tech in 1971, then moved to Omaha North in 1984. Alexander coached more than 50 individual state champions before retiring in 2008. His teams claimed seven state championships, in 1978 at Tech and 1985, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1995 and 1999 at North. The two schools also claimed four runner-up trophies while under his direction. He was a four-time Metro Coach of the Year, the 1990 Nebraska Scholastic Wrestling Coaches Association Coach of the Year and the 1994 Omaha World-Herald Boys Sports Coach of the Year. He was inducted into the UNO Hall of Fame in 1986.

Athlete–It is no accident that the Museum of Nebraska Major League Baseball is situated within Howard County at St. Paul, for nearby is the final resting place of an American premier baseball pitcher. Grover Cleveland Alexander. Records of play for high school teams in this era are sketchy at best. One thing about Alexander in his Elba high school years, he was playing baseball successfully against older athletes and this led him into professional baseball for an illustrious major league career beginning in 1911. He played for the Phillies, Cubs and Cardinals, led the league in wins five times, in ERA five times, in strikeouts six times. His golden moment was striking out New York Yankees’ slugger Tony Lazzeri with the bases loaded in the seventh game of the 1926 World Series. This namesake of a US president compiled a game winning lifetime mark of 373-208. Late in a career celebrated by the movies, he came on in real life relief late in the final game of the 1926 World Series to successfully strike out the New York Yankees. A World War I veteran who served overseas in France, Alexander was admitted to the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame at Cooperstown in 1938. His windup was minimal, his stride short, his delivery three-quarters overhand. His right arm swung across his chest and the ball seemed to emerge from his shirtfront. He warmed up quickly. On the mound he was deliberate but without wasted time or motion. He was a solitary man and said little, and that in a small, whispery voice. His teammates respected him. He also suffered from epilepsy, which was sometimes mistaken for drunken behavior. The disease first appeared in 1918 during his military service in France with the artillery, which partially deafened him.

Led League in era 15-17, 19-20

Led League in k 12, 14-17, 20

Hall Of Fame in 1938

IP W-L ERA Career 5189 373-208 2.56 World Series 43 3-2 3.35

Many of his minor league experiences were inauspicious. Playing for Galesburg, IL, of the Central Association in 1909, he tried to break up a double play and took the shortstop’s relay directly in the head. Unconscious for two days, he awoke with double vision. Galesburg sent him to Indianapolis but, still disoriented, he broke three of the manager’s ribs with his first pitch. Indianapolis sent him home and sold his contract to the Syracuse Chiefs over the winter. By spring, his vision had cleared and he won 29 for the Chiefs, including 15 shutouts.

The Phillies acquired Alexander for $750 in 1911. As a rookie, he led the NL in wins (28), complete games (31), innings pitched (367), and shutouts (7). Four of the shutouts were consecutive; one was a 1-0 win over Cy Young, then in his final season.

Alexander’s greatest years were in Philadelphia (1911-17), despite a right-field wall that was only 272 feet from home plate. He won 190 games (one-third of the team’s total for the period), won 30 or more three straight years, 1915-17, and led the NL in every important pitching statistic at least once. His 16 shutouts in 1916 is still the ML record.

Traded with catcher Bill Killefer to the Cubs in 1917 for a battery of considerably lower caliber and $55,000, Pete won another 128 games for Chicago. In 1926, he went to the Cardinals for the $6,000 waiver price.

He had a live fastball that moved in on righthanded hitters and a sharp-breaking curve. He had no changeup as such, but could change speeds on both the fastball and the curve to achieve the same effect. He kept the ball low and on the outside of the plate. His control was extraordinary (career: 1.65 walks per 9 innings), and batters who tried to wait him out usually fanned.

His most famous victim was Tony Lazzeri of the Yankees. In the seventh inning of the final game of the 1926 WS, with the Cardinals ahead 3-2, the Yankees had two out and the bases loaded. Alexander, who’d won two games, including a complete game the day before, relieved for St. Louis. On four knee-high pitches, he struck out Lazzeri, then pitched two more hitless innings to wrap up the World Championship.

After his 1926 heroics, Alexander got his best contract ever: $17,500. He responded with 21 wins in 1927, but he was 40 years old. Whiskey and age were taking their toll. After leaving the majors, he pitched in demeaning circumstances with touring teams until he was 51. He retired believing his 373 wins placed him one ahead of Christy Mathewson for the most career NL victories, but later statistical research added another win to Matty’s total.

Dennis Albers dominated the high school gymnastics scene in 1959 and 1960. The all-around state champion in both years, he won gold medals in tumbling, trampoline, parallel bars, horizontal bars and free exercise. In both years, he scored more than 70 points while leading Hastings to back-to-back state championships. He also lettered for three years in track and field, holding the Hastings High School pole vault record for several years. As a collegian, Albers led the Nebraska Cornhuskers to the 1964 Big Eight Championship, winning the all-around championship and four individual events.

Athlete. World War II era residents of the Elkhorn Valley within Madison County were fortunate to witness the early years of this legendary athlete who graduated from Tilden High School in 1944. He was an all state caliber member of the Tigers basketball team which made it to the state tournament in 1944 in Class C. His specialty developed in baseball as an outfielder, eventually playing for the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs and New York Mets. He was honored for those major league talents by being inducted into baseball’s Hall of Fame in 1995. Often a National League batting champion challenger, his best year came in 1958 when he hit .350. Not just a speed merchant, but blessed with a great throwing arm, Richie Ashburn helped the Philadelphia Phillies win a rare National League pennant in 1950 (Whiz Kids). In the off season during his playing days, Ashburn returned to Tilden and refereed high school games and worked out with the Tilden high school teams during the winter. He’d bring cases of Wheaties for families in Tilden because of his endorsement of the product. Deceased.

Richie Ashburn was a durable, hustling leadoff hitter and clutch performer with superb knowledge of the strike zone. A fan favorite, “Whitey” batted .308 with nine .300-plus seasons and 2,574 hits in 15 years, winning batting championships in 1955 and 1958. A core player for the 1950 Whiz Kids, the center fielder established major league records for most times leading the league in chances (nine), most years with 500 or more putouts (four) and most seasons with 400 or more putouts (nine). Ashburn spent 35 years broadcasting Phillies games after his playing days.

Did you know … that Richie Ashburn was the only rookie elected to the 1948 All-Star Game?

Following from: Leo Harvill, commenting by email on Ashburn’s death.
“I grew up in Tilden, NE. Richie and his family lived one block away from my family. His children played with my younger brother and sister. I would babysit with his kids. He and his family were friends of our family. He was my boyhood hero and idol but he was also my friend even though he was 14 years older. I didn’t think it was unusual to have a major league baseball star living next to me. I guess I thought everyone did.

I can remember Rich bringing cases of Wheaties over for our family (I have three brothers and a sister). He was given cases of them because of his endorsement of the product but he told us that he and his family didn’t eat them.

I can remember Rich working out with our high school basketball team so he could keep in shape in the off season. He could drive around anyone on our team; his speed on the basketball court was amazing! I was particularly slow and could not believe anyone could be that fast.

My wife, youngest son, and I had the opportunity to visit Rich in 1993 and attend several Phillies games (when Ashburn was an announcer). My wife and I were also able to attend the Hall of Fame induction ceremony in 1995. It was a special time for me to see a friend inducted into the HOF. I never saw Rich play in a major league baseball game but I followed his career very closely.”

Paul Amen’s career as an athlete, coach and banking executive began at Lincoln High where he started at halfback on the Links’ 1932 mythical state-champion football team. He also started at guard and earned all-state honors for the Links’ 21-1 Class A champion basketball team of 1934. After graduation, Amen attended the University of Nebraska where he earned three letters each in football, basketball and baseball. He played on the U.S. baseball team that gave exhibitions at the Berlin Olympics in 1936. He was the head baseball and an assistant football coach at Army from 1943-55 then was the head football coach at Wake Forest where he was named the conference’s coach of the year twice in four years. He returned to Nebraska where he worked in banking and served as director of the Department of Banking and Finance for the state of Nebraska from 1979-83.

A two-time all-state basketball player who led Creighton Prep to the 1964 Class A title, he also was a prep All-American as a senior. A 6-foot-7 center-forward, he scored 1,404 points as a Junior Jay – the first in the school’s history to eclipse the 1,000-point . He averaged more than 24 points per game in three state tournament appearances. At Creighton University, he averaged 17.2 points a game while finishing among the Jays’ all-time top 10 for scoring (1,267 points) and rebounds (696). A second-round NBA draft pick in 1969 by Atlanta, he played for the Cincinnati Royals in 1969-70.

Whenever great all-time coaches of high school track & field or cross country are mentioned in Nebraska, the name of Jon Appleget pops right into the discussion. Serving as head cross country and track & field coach at Fremont High School between 1965 and 1997, his record is remarkable. Twice the Black and Gold won the state cross country boys title during his tenure and in track, he had a spectacular ten-year period when his teams won the boys state track & field title five times. His athletes finished 1st, 2nd or 3rd in over 150 meets. Small wonder then that he won state coach of the year honors five times and won the type of respect previously reserved for others such as Dutch Zorn and Wayne Binfield, early Hall of Fame inductees. The school honored him by naming the track and field facility in his name.

By Brett Ellis/Tribune Staff , Fremont Tribune, Spring, 2002

Chip Bahe believes Saturday’s dedication of the Jon M. Appleget Track and Field Facility is a fitting tribute to the man who helped bring the Fremont High School boys track program to prominent status in the state. “I wouldn’t think any other name would be sufficient,” said the Lincoln Northeast boys basketball coach, who competed under Appleget from 1983-85 at FHS. “Fremont track and the name Jon Appleget go hand in hand. I don’t think anybody else’s name could be attached to it.”

Appleget will be honored during Saturday’s Fremont Invitational. The dedication is scheduled to take place around 3 p.m.

Appleget, who coached the Tigers to five state track titles, is honored that so many of his past athletes want to recognize him.

“I think it means that they got something out of the program, and I guess that makes any coach proud,” he said.

Sean McMahon was a distance runner for Appleget and replaced him as boys cross country coach in the fall of 1997.

McMahon appreciates the time he had to work with Appleget.

“From day one he was a big inspiration,” McMahon said. “You just know from being around him a few seconds that he’s someone who’s a role model and someone you want to emulate.”

Bahe agrees.

“He made track fun and that’s not an easy thing to do,” he said. “He had such a unique quality about him that made you want to be successful for each other. He made track a team game.”

Along with his five state titles, Appleget received several other honors while at Fremont. He was inducted into the Nebraska High School Hall of Fame in 1998 and was the Nebraska Coaches Association track coach of the year 1984-86 and 1990.

Appleget, though, is quick to acknowledge that his success was based largely on the coaches with which he surrounded himself, including Pat Murphy — who coached with Appleget from 1965 until they retired together in 1997.

“We were just lucky to have that continuity,” Appleget said.

Mike Reis, who has been a sprint and hurdles coach at FHS since 1971, said Appleget was so successful because he encouraged his athletes to enjoy their participation in track.

“It just goes back to making it fun,” Reis said. “It was controlled fun, but that’s the best way to get what you want out of the kids.”

Reis developed a relationship with Appleget that extended beyond the track, though.

“Above all he was a friend, and that’s probably the best thing you can say about him,” Reis said.

What separated Appleget from many other coaches, McMahon said, was that he put in the time and effort to learn all aspects of the sport.

“I don’t know that there was a weakness of his,” McMahon said.

McMahon also hopes the current Fremont athletes take the time Saturday to appreciate what Applegate, as well as the numerous other athletes that have gone through the Fremont program, have done.

Between 250-300 people are expected to attend the track reunion, many of which also will be at the invitational.

“It’s not something we’ve been talking to them a lot about, but they’ve been figuring a lot out on their own,” McMahon said. “They want to do well because they know that there will be a lot of people out there supporting them. I think it will be an electric and exciting atmosphere.”

Coach. A coaching legend in Nebraska high school football, this gentleman started his illustrious career at Cathedral High School in Lincoln in 1950. Interestingly, in those days Cathedral High played 6-man football. In 1951, under the guidance of Coach Aldrich, the school was the No. 1 6-man team in the state. In the fall of 1956, Pius X High School opened in Lincoln. Aldrich was on the faculty as both a football expert and a fine teacher. In both 1975 and 1978, his Thunderbolts won the state playoffs and were the undisputed Class B state champion. A common compliment to this winning coach in those days was the statement that the Pius X team under Coach Aldrich’s direction could compete with any Class A team. With a lifetime football coaching record of 200-105-13; it is no surprise that today the football field at 6000 A Street in Lincoln is named Aldrich Field.